Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 45 5 May 2018
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Hadrian AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint, Koinon of Bithynia(?), circa AD 117-138. IMP C[AES] TRA HADRIANO AVG P P, laureate head right / FELICITATI AVGVSTI, galley to left with vexillum at the bow, four rowers and a helmsman in the stern cabin; VLT[O] or BIT(?) in right field. For same obverse die, cf. RPC III 963 (Koinon of Bithynia); for possible undertypes, cf. RPC I 2220 (Augustus, Pergamum) and RPC III 968-76 (Hadrian, Koinon of Bithynia); for reverse type, cf. RIC II 240 (Hadrian, Denarius). 10.80g, 29mm, 12h.
Good Very Fine.
While struck from a known obverse die from the Commune Bithyniae, this reverse type is unrecorded for this denomination. The design for this reverse die would seem to have been copied from that produced at the mint of Rome for the striking of Hadrian's denarii during the years of AD 134-8.
A single column and three letters of the undertype are visible on the reverse. The letters appear to read VLT and thus, correspond most closely to the cistophori produced for Augustus at Pergamum in 19-18 BC with the Temple of Mars Ultor reverse type. Despite this, when one considers that this obverse die was produced at Bithynia and the close visual parallels of the temple reverse types struck at Bithynia during the reign of Hadrian with the aforementioned reverse type of Augustus, it cannot be ruled out that the letters may read BIT.
Good Very Fine.
While struck from a known obverse die from the Commune Bithyniae, this reverse type is unrecorded for this denomination. The design for this reverse die would seem to have been copied from that produced at the mint of Rome for the striking of Hadrian's denarii during the years of AD 134-8.
A single column and three letters of the undertype are visible on the reverse. The letters appear to read VLT and thus, correspond most closely to the cistophori produced for Augustus at Pergamum in 19-18 BC with the Temple of Mars Ultor reverse type. Despite this, when one considers that this obverse die was produced at Bithynia and the close visual parallels of the temple reverse types struck at Bithynia during the reign of Hadrian with the aforementioned reverse type of Augustus, it cannot be ruled out that the letters may read BIT.